Halp to theodoee s



(No Model.)

B. D. STEVENS.

DEVIGE FOR OPERATING BLIND SLATS. No. 340,017. Patented Apr. 13, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN D. STEVENS, OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO THEODORE S. PEOK, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING BLlND-SLATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,017, dated April 13, 1886.

Application filed February 16. 1856. Serial No. 193,322. (No model.)

To all whom it nmy concern..-

Be it known that l, BENJAMIN D. STEVENS, of Burlington, in the State of Vermont, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Devices for Operating BlindSl-ats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to that kind of blind slat-opcratiug mechanism or device in which a slide mounted on the slat-holding frame or stile is used to turn the slats, the slide for this purpose engaging a projection or the like on each slat.

The object of my improvement is to obtain a cheap, durable, easily-applied. and efficient slat Operating derice of this character. and the manner in which I do this can be best explained and understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of a portion of a blind containing my imp ovement, part of the stile being broken away, ll] order to show more clearly the parts wherein my invention is contained. Fig. 2 is an end view of one of the slats, showing the toothed device which engages the sliding rack. Fig. 3 is a view of the toothed device detached. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4, Fig. 1.

In the particular blind shown in the drawings there are two sets of panels or slats, operaled by one and the same handle orpull, A, to which both of the slides B for the respective sets of slats are attached, the slides being mounted and held in suitable grooves in the center stile of the blind-frame. lt is of course man fest that each set of slats can be arranged to operate independently of the other, if desired.

Each slat, upon that end of it which adjoins the slide, is provided with a toothed device, such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which may not improperly be called a. partial gear, and which is struck out from sheet metal in the form of a ring, which has on it teeth a, but so as to project laterally from the ring,

and thus to be in position to engage teeth b on the slide B, and a prong, c, by which it is made fast to the slat. I

In applying the device the prong is bent at right angles to the face of the ring, the latter is slipped over the tenon of the slat, and is then pressed or driven up against the end of the latter, so as to cause the prong to enter and embed itself firmly in the wood. In this way the partial gear is held most tightly in place and in position to engage and be operated by the slide.

The number of teeth on the partial gear may vary. in the instance illustrated there are three teeth.

Both the slide B and the partial gear are of metal. They are very inexpensive. readily and easily applied, durable, and entirely eflieient.

Having described my improvement and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the blind or slat frame, the toothed slide, and the slats pivoted in said frame, of partial gears consisting of sheet-metal rings encircling the slat-tenons, and provided with teeth bent so as to project laterally from the-rings, and with means for securing them to the ends of the slats, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The shectmetal ring adapted to encircle the slat-tenon, and formed with teeth to engage the operating-slide, and with a retaining-prong by which it can be fastened to the end of the slat. substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of February, 1886.

BENJAMIN D. STEVENS. 

